If you have landed here without viewing any of the previous days, you may want to start at South Africa 2023 Day 1 and view your way up to Day 7, Part I. On Part II of today's blog, we continue on our journey and are now headed to the Apartheid Museum in Ormonde, Johannesburg, then lunch, and we finish the day at the Lesedi Cultural Village. So lets get to it.
The Apartheid Museum https://www.apartheidmuseum.org/
I highly recommend visiting the website where you will find a wealth of information. I hope this post will spark your interest and that you will want to learn more. The Apartheid Museum opened in 2001 and is acknowledged as the pre-eminent museum in the world dedicated to 20th-century South Africa, at the heart of which is the apartheid story. It is a must visit for one to understand what the real apartheid South Africa was like. It is a beacon of hope showing the world how the country is coming to terms with its oppressive past and building on the future.
The wall below is at the entrance to the Apartheid Museum. Note the statement by Nelson Mandela. These words ring true more than ever in these times we are living in.
Of course I had to get a picture of these ladies before we headed in. You'll remember them if you read the blogs from earlier days.
And so our journey begins. There is so much crucial information in this portion of the blog that I am going to post most of these pics individually instead of in a group to make it easier to read and take it all in as if you were actually there. Note the words on this panel. We were fortunate enough to have a guide take us through the museum and we still could have used more time. This is Angela standing near this panel.
This is our guide Manwell. He is giving us history on the museum then tells us something that surprises us regarding our tickets to enter. The type of ticket received determines which door you use to enter the museum.
Notice the signs above his head and also the black panels behind him. Talk about feeling some kind of way. Whew!!!!!
This is my ticket. It indicates that I am to enter the door for whites.
This is my door.
Note this sign.
In this video, Manwell is explaining the difference between Africans vs Colored and the requirement for black people to have to carry passbooks.
Angela and Brini walking through the section. Note the sign behind them stating the premises and amenities are for the exclusive use of white persons.
These pictures were taken while walking the outside perimeter of the museum. There were these mirrors with people appearing to be walking imbedded in them and then you would also have the black panels.
In this short video, Manwell gives history on the stones you see enclosed in the cages.
The Birth of the Struggle.
We Are the Walkers.
We Are Thinkers.
We Are Fighters.
This picture shows a walker embedded in the mirror on the left and people going in and out of the alcoves on the right.
We Are Survivors.
We Are Storytellers.
A great shot of one of the walkers in the mirror.
Mandela Exhibition Sign.
After touring the outside of the museum we proceeded to go inside. Unfortunately cameras are not permitted so I have none from the exhibits but when I tell you it was not the happiest part of my trip to South Africa, it is beyond an understatement. It was quite an experience and it did honestly make me feel some kind of way.
At the end of the inside tour, we came into the exit area that had various sayings along with the South African Flag and a pit that held thousands of rocks. You could throw a rock as a symbol to cast away all the hatred and racism exhibited in the museum. I like to think we were casting away all negative spirits so that we continue with the joyous trip we were experiencing thus far.
South African Flag and Rock Throw Pit.
I like to think of these as the pillars of justice for all!
We are leaving the Apartheid Museum headed to lunch and in this video, Cindi is describing the occasion when Nelson Mandela was talking to some people after his release and their surprise to not have known about him.
We stopped for lunch so I grabbed a few pics while we were waiting for our food.
Our dessert options.
After lunch we headed to the final stop of the day - The Lesedi Cultural Village.
Lesedi Cultural Village https://www.lesedi.com/
The Lesedi Cultural Village is a renowned village located in the heart of the African bushveld, amidst the rocky hills within the Cradle of Humankind - a World Heritage Site. During our visit here we were introduced to the fascinating cultures and traditions of the people of Africa. We visited five traditional homesteads inhabited by Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele tribes who live according to tribal folklore and traditions of their ancestors. "Our culture is the light of our nation - whoever walks here amongst our cultures at Lesedi can also see the light."
Below you will find a gallery of pictures taken during my visit. During the visit to the various tribes, members explained their customs and the different tools used in their daily life. If you would like to see more pictures you can go to their website and click on gallery. Enjoy!
After touring the village, we were treated to a wonderful African dinner there before heading back to our hotel. This was also a farewell dinner for the group who would be leaving in the morning.
I hope you enjoyed Day 7, Part II - Apartheid Museum and Lesedi Cultural Village. Just a reminder that each day builds upon the prior days and blogs so if you haven't read South Africa 2023; Return to Soweto - Day 7, Part I; South Africa 2023 - Sandton Sun Day 6; South Africa 2023 - Johannesburg - Day 5, Part I or Mandela House - Day 5, Part II; or Cape Town Day 4, Part I and Part II; Day 3, Part I and Part II; Day 2, Part I and Part II; or Day 1 yet, you may do so here. https://www.edeeonthego.com/link-tree
If you are new to www.edeeonthego.com, I hope you will go back and view other blogs you have missed. If you subscribe to the site - and I hope you do, you will automatically be notified when new blogs are posted.
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Stay tuned for South Africa 2023 - Pilanesberg National Park, Day 8. In this blog, we will stay at a game lodge inside the reserve and go on safari. You won't want to miss this!
Until our next time......
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